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TURNING POINTS 25 Pivotal Decisions in Toyota's 50 Years in America |
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Search for perfection It has been 50 years since the first Toyota showed up in America. Toyota's early efforts were not spectacularly successful, but it improved - constantly. That is the secret of its success Keith E. Crain is publisher and editor-in-chief of Automotive News.  FULL STORY Half a century later, it's time for me to eat crow OK, I was wrong. I admit it. So shoot me. I'm referring to my original assessment of Toyota's chances to be successful in the United States. That was in 1957, and I was not exactly optimistic. John K. Teahen Jr. is senior editor of Automotive News. FULL STORY
What keeps Toyota 1 step ahead? Relentless dissatisfaction Getting better is an all-day, every-day project Maybe the Toyota secret was out. Maybe other carmakers could adopt Toyota's methods and match the leader in quality and productivity. Might that happen? Peter Brown is associate publisher and editorial director of Automotive News FULL STORY Behind Toyota, always, stand the Toyodas Family dynasty and its code changed automaking Before the Prius, before Lexus, — before even those first two Toyopet Crowns were on a passenger ship from Yokohama to Los Angeles, there was the family. The auto industry has produced many celebrated dynasties: Ford, Michelin, Peugeot, Porsche/Piech. And Toyoda James B. Treece is industry editor of Automotive News. FULL STORY
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5 Key Questions for the Future
Talk about sending mixed signals. Toyota, often praised in environmental circles for pioneering fuel-saving technology, has launched a 5,000-pound hybrid luxury car, the Lexus LS 600h L. While its 21-mpg rating in combined city-highway driving beats much of the high-end competition, the car also is a speck of tarnish on the automaker's green image.  story
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Toyota has made its mark in the United States by latching on to the baby boom generation. It turned Toyota into the best-selling import brand in America. The boomers also fueled the growth of Lexus into the best-selling U.S. luxury brand. But what happens when the boomers die off? What will Toyota do to convince future generations that it is as relevant to them as it was to their parents? story
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Jim Press' promotion to succeed a Japanese national as COO of Toyota Motor North America, and his subsequent replacement by another Japanese after his abrupt departure for Chrysler, raises questions about Toyota's human resource policies. Will Toyota's top post in the United States continue to be reserved for Japanese males and white American males? story
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If the dealer makes money, we make money. If the dealer is happy, we are happy. That mantra has been at the heart of Toyota's retail philosophy since it started business in the United States 50 years ago. It's the main reason Toyota's dealer body has stayed relatively small for so long. Don't expect that to change. story
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In July, when Ford Motor Co. and General Motors reported surprisingly strong profits for the second quarter — Ford after seven straight quarterly losses and GM after eking out small profits in the previous two quarters —. Why would competitor Toyota root for GM or Ford? Because Toyota will walk through fire to avoid any impression that it's pushing the U.S. companies over a cliff. story
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